Harriet Clugston

More than 2,000 dine-and-dashers ran off without paying in Merseyside last year.

Industry representatives say leaving without paying for services including meals, petrol, or taxi journeys is akin to "stealing someone's wages", and could leave innocent people unable to provide for their families.

Home Office figures reveal Merseyside Police recorded 2,188 making off without payment offences in the 12 months to September 2018.

This was an increase of 12% compared to the same period in 2014-15.

Despite the rise, the number of offenders being charged has fallen.

In 2014-15, the police brought charges 76 times, or in 4% of cases.

But by 2017-18, this had fallen to 2%, with charges brought just 34 times.

Making off without payment is when a person dishonestly leaves despite knowing that payment is due on the spot.

Offences have risen by 48% across England and Wales in the last three years, while the proportion of offenders being charged has fallen from just under 5% to less than 2%.

Federation of Small Businesses chairman Mike Cherry said the rise was being exacerbated by police cuts.

He said: “This can’t be allowed to continue – lots of businesses have very tight margins and it’s time to stop tolerating opportunistic thieves taking food off the family table.

“If the police are not able to meet the needs of businesses across the country, then the Government should step in and give the authorities the funding they need to tackle this problem."

The British Oil Security Syndicate, which helps recover debts for petrol stations, estimates that drive-offs at garage forecourts cost retailers around £20 million a year.